MachineryLink

Yamaha Launches Viking VI

Dan Miller
By  Dan Miller , Progressive Farmer Senior Editor
The Viking VI uses a unique configuration on its two rows of seats to give six passengers plenty of shoulder room. (Photo courtesy of Yamaha)

Yamaha Motor Corp. has rolled out a larger capacity Viking for 2015. The newest model in the line is the Viking VI, the "VI" for six seats. Prices start at $12,799.

On a test drive outside Austin, Texas, the Viking VI proved to be an able off-road side-by-side with the capability to comfortably move six passengers. It has good range (9.7 gallons of fuel), reactive power steering and an engine that, although the same size as the original three-seat Viking, has been enhanced to accommodate the additional load.

Convenience features include a digital display (fuel, trip, speed, mileage), eight cup holders and two accessory outlets.

The Viking VI builds on the design of the original three-seat model. Introduced in mid-2013, the three-person Viking mounts an offset, three-across row of bucket seats—the middle seat sits slightly behind the other two. It's a smart idea in that it increases shoulder room and improves comfort for all three passengers. The Viking VI sports two rows of three-across seating, both featuring the offset, center-seat configuration.

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There are adjustable handholds for the passengers, and the driver seat is adjustable. The rear seats are mounted about 0.8 inches higher than the front for better viewing.

A neat touch for the rear passengers is the see-through front-row headrests. The centers are open to improve visibility for rear riders.

The Viking VI runs on a 686-cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected engine (with performance tweaks, such as a large-capacity air intake). The engine sits under the cargo bed that, when raised, reveals easy-to-reach servicing points.

The stamped steel bed of the Viking VI hauls 600 pounds and is raised on dual hydraulic struts. The VI tows 1,500 pounds with a 2-inch receiver.

Yamaha's On-Command 4WD system offers 2-wheel-drive, limited slip 4-wheel-drive and a fully locked differential 4-wheel-drive.

To accommodate six passengers, Yamaha strengthened the Viking's A-Arms, added stiffer, dual-rate springs and mounted dual-piston brakes on all four wheels. It has 11.4 inches of ground clearance.

The Viking VI is 153.5 inches long and 61.8 inches wide. Colors are Hunter Green, Red and Realtree AP camo.

(JP/CZ)

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